Pezzata Festival
The summer festival in Acquafondata, featuring pastoral flavors and family games in the Meta Mountains
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Pezzata Festival
The Pezzata Festival in Acquafondata
In the heart of the Meta Mountains, where the Lazio region meets Molise and Abruzzo, the small municipality of Acquafondata (province of Frosinone) launched the Pezzata Festival in 2025. This new summer festival is dedicated to the dish that tells the story of the local shepherds. It is a family-friendly village celebration designed to offer children and their parents a day outdoors, filled with games, workshops, and the authentic flavors of mountain cuisine.
What is the pezzata?
The pezzata is a humble, ancient dish born along the transhumance trails, when flocks were moved between the Apennine mountains and the plains. Shepherds would cook mutton for a long time with potatoes, tomatoes, and aromatic mountain herbs in large copper cauldrons over an open fire. Simple, savory, and hearty, the pezzata is today a symbol of the pastoral identity of the Upper Cassino area and the Apennine regions bordering Lazio, Abruzzo, and Molise.
Acquafondata, the village of the bagpipes
Immersed in the woods on the slopes of the Meta Mountains, in the heart of the Ciociaria region, Acquafondata is one of the highest villages in Lazio. It is known as the "village of the bagpipes" due to its historic tradition linked to this instrument. The community has always preserved a pastoral culture defined by flocks, trails, and transhumance dishes: the Pezzata Festival was created specifically to celebrate this heritage and pass it on to new generations in a convivial atmosphere.
A program designed for families
The heart of the festival is outdoor entertainment, featuring a full day of activities for children and teenagers, followed by a community dinner. Highlights of the first edition included:
- Creative workshops for children
- Baby dance and traditional games
- Mini trekking to discover the village trails
- Water games to cool off during summer days
- Readings and farm stories in touch with the rural world
- Dinner featuring pasta and the essential mutton pezzata
A young tradition with an ancient heart
Debuting in July 2025 at the sports field created from the former riding stables, the Pezzata Festival is still a young event, yet it is rooted in centuries of tradition. For those visiting the province of Frosinone during the summer, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic and off-the-beaten-path corner of the Lazio Apennines, surrounded by mountains, forests, and flavors that taste of the pasture.
Pezzata Festival — edition 2026
The Pezzata Festival is an event launched in 2025 in Acquafondata, in the Meta Mountains in the province of Frosinone. For the 2026 edition, no official dates or program have been published yet. This page will be updated once the organization communicates the details.
Programme Pezzata Festival 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition has not yet been published. As it is a young event, launched in 2025, dates and activities will be announced by the organizers in the months leading up to the event.
Practical information — Pezzata Festival
Location
The festival is held in Acquafondata (province of Frosinone, Lazio), at the sports field created from the former riding stables, on the outskirts of the village.
When
The event takes place in the summer, in July. The first edition was held on July 3rd and 4th, 2025.
How to get there
By car: Take the A1 Rome-Naples motorway, exit at Cassino, then continue towards the Meta Mountains along the provincial roads leading up to Acquafondata. The village can also be reached from Sant'Elia Fiumerapido and the Comino Valley.
Tips
As this is a mountain village, we recommend bringing comfortable clothing and a light jacket for the evening, as temperatures can drop even in summer.
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Where does it take place — Pezzata Festival
Campo sportivo (ex maneggio)